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More cars were clamped on Dominick Street Lower in Dublin 1 than anywhere else in the Dublin City Council area in 2012.

Some 831 vehicles were targeted on the thoroughfare, 30pc more than the next highest zone, Ranelagh, where 637 cars were clamped, data provided by the local authority shows.

Dominick Street Lower, beside the Parnell Street entrance to the Ilac Centre, is an extremely popular parking area for motorists.

It was only one of two roads in the north inner city on the top-10 list. The other eight were in the south inner city, including Mespil Road (601), D'Olier Street (568), Pearse Street (549) and Rathmines Road Lower (541).

The only other northside road on the list was Jervis Street, where 531 vehicles were clamped in 2012. An estimated 55,000 cars were subject to enforcement this year by Dublin Street Parking Services (DSPS), which carries out the service on behalf of the council.

With release fees set at €80, the local authority earned income of about €4.4m from the unlucky drivers. The streets on the top-10 list accounted for 5,811 (10.6pc) of this total, earning income of €464,880.

However, when the cost of paying DSPS to provide the service is deducted, the council made a loss.

Charges

A report earlier this year said motorists should face a 60pc increase in clamping charges so that the local authority can meet its costs.

The document from the council's parking appeals officer said the €80 charge had not been increased since it was introduced in 1998.

Appeals officer William Keilthy said this meant the charge has decreased by 25pc in real terms.